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Mr. Wright's Art Class: Living with Art, Chapter 19 - Asia, Part 1

William Wright・40 minutes read

Professor William Wright teaches an art lesson on Asian civilizations, covering topics from ancient Indian sculptures to the construction of the Taj Mahal under the Mughals, transitioning to China's rich artistic heritage starting with the Shang Dynasty and Terracotta Warriors. The lesson explores Indian and Chinese art evolution, encompassing religious influences, unification under different dynasties, and the spread of philosophical doctrines like Buddhism in Indian society.

Insights

  • Ancient Indian art showcased early forms of meditation and yoga, with Emperor Ashoka promoting Buddhism through iconic pillars adorned with lion motifs and the wheel symbol.
  • Chinese art during the Shang Dynasty excelled in bronze craftsmanship, featuring intricate animal imagery like the Taotie, symbolizing communication with the spirit world, and later transitioned to the Qin and Han Dynasties, emphasizing Confucianism and Taoism for social order and spiritual reflection.

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Recent questions

  • What ancient civilization is known for Stone seals?

    Indus River Valley

  • Who unified India through conquest and embraced Buddhism?

    Emperor Ashoka

  • What is the significance of the Great Stupa in India?

    Buddha's Ashes

  • Which dynasty in China commissioned the Terracotta Army?

    Qin Dynasty

  • What philosophical beliefs were popular during the Han Dynasty?

    Confucianism and Taoism

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Summary

00:00

"Art Lesson: Ancient Asian Civilizations and Buddhism"

  • Professor William Wright is teaching an art lesson on depreciation from chapter 19 of "Living with Art" by Mark Getlein, focusing on the Arts of Asia.
  • The lesson covers ancient civilizations along the Indus River, starting around 2600 BC, with Mohenjo-daro being the oldest known city in the region.
  • Early Indian artworks include Sandstone figurines from about 2000 BCE, resembling Sumerian sculptures and preceding Greek artwork.
  • Stone seals from Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, dating back to 2300 BC, suggest early forms of meditation, breathing techniques, and possibly yoga.
  • Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya kingdom unified India through conquest, later embracing Buddhism and erecting pillars declaring protection for his subjects.
  • The lion Capital atop these pillars, featuring lion motifs and the wheel symbol, remains a part of Indian coinage today.
  • Buddhism spread in India from the 8th Century BC, with Gautama becoming the Buddha after meditating under a tree and achieving enlightenment.
  • The Great Stupa, built in the 3rd Century BC by King Ashoka to house Buddha's ashes, became a significant memorial structure.
  • The Great Stupa, not hollow but solid, features an ambulatory Stone railing for meditative walking around its premise.
  • Buddhism's influence in India led to the growth of urban centers and the spread of a more connected society in the first millennium BC.

13:57

"Influential Torana Gateways and Buddha's Iconography"

  • The Torana gateways are influential sculptures at the Great Stupa, serving as entry points and featuring relief motifs depicting stories of the Buddha's birth.
  • Common motifs in the sculptures include elephants, wheels, spirals, and various stories from the Buddha's life, commissioned by locals over time.
  • After becoming enlightened, the Buddha is often symbolized by a wheel, a tree, or footprints, transitioning from human representation to symbolic motifs.
  • The first pictorial images of the Buddha appeared in Gandhara, Pakistan, during the first and second century CE, with specific iconography reflecting virtues and regional preferences.
  • Different eras and Indian kingdoms showcased varying styles of depicting the Buddha, with some figures representing bodhisattvas rather than the Buddha himself.
  • The Gupta period, known as the Golden Age of India, produced dominant styles of depicting the Buddha, despite the Gupta rulers being Hindu supporters of Buddhist art.
  • Hinduism, centered around principal deities like Shiva, Durga, and Vishnu, influenced Indian art, with temples showcasing intricate carvings of various deities and motifs.
  • The Mughals, a Persian-influenced Mongol group who adopted Islam, established an Indian form of Islamic art, with the Taj Mahal being a prominent structure built under their rule.
  • The Taj Mahal, constructed as a burial chamber for Shah Jahan's wife Mumtaz Mahal, exemplifies the fusion of Islamic architectural elements with Indian artistry.
  • Transitioning to ancient Chinese art, the focus shifts to the Terracotta Warriors and the Yellow River, highlighting the rich artistic heritage of China.

28:24

"Evolution of Chinese Dynasties and Beliefs"

  • Proto Chinese civilization began around 5000 BC near the Yellow River, with the Shang Dynasty being the first established Dynasty in the second Millennium BC.
  • The Shang Dynasty marked China's emergence from the Neolithic era, showcasing advanced works in Jade, lacquer, Ivory, precious metals, and bronze.
  • The Shang Dynasty excelled in bronze craftsmanship, burying bronze with individuals and trading with the broader world, displaying early motifs like spirals and animal imagery.
  • The Taotie, animal imagery with spirals and horns, symbolized communication with the spirit world through animal deities, alongside impressive clay vessel craftsmanship.
  • After the fall of the Shang Dynasty around 1050 BC, the chaotic Zhao Dynasty ruled, characterized by warring eras and elaborate artwork like bronze bells and tombs.
  • In 221 BC, the Qin Dynasty united China under Emperor Shi Huangdi, commissioning the renowned Terracotta Army for his tomb's protection.
  • Following Shi Huangdi's death in 206 BC, the Han Dynasty began, popularizing Confucianism and Taoism, emphasizing education, social order, and respect for family.
  • Confucianism, based on the teachings of Confucius, focused on right relationships, social order, education, and moral behavior, becoming official state policy during the Han Dynasty.
  • Taoism, centered on the flow of the universe and spiritual matters, complemented Confucianism, emphasizing reflection, intellectualism, and embracing the flow of life.
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